Piano Q & A

Selecting Pianos

When purchasing a piano, everyone would like to buy a "good" one. We need to explore what it takes to make a "good" piano so we will know one when we see it.

Yamaha has the information from the sale of literally millions of pianos to almost as many people. What all of those buyers looked for in order to get a good piano can be summoned as follows:

1) The first requisite looked for is a piano that is capable of good performance, which has two meanings. The performance needs to be good to listen to; and it must be comfortable and pleasing for the pianist to play.

Performance covers two major areas.
A. A good tone.
B. A good "touch".

2) The second requisite is that the piano should be beautiful. Beauty covers three major areas.
A. Beauty of design.
B. Beauty of craftsmanship.
C. Beauty of finish.

3) The third requisite is dependability and durability. Dependability and durability are attained by high quality in:
A. Design.
B. Materials.
C. Craftsmanship

The information that follows will show how Yamaha builds pianos to carefully cover all the requests to make sure the customer receives not only a "good" piano, but the "best" piano.

What is a good piano?

What sort of things should I look for?

• With this in mind, Yamaha pianos are individually conceived and engineered to be as ideal as possible for that particular model. Balance is stressed so that each model has ideal tone and touch, beauty and durability. Each and every part of each model, including the very small parts, affect the overall sound. Thus it is apparent that overall piano quality cannot be judged by investigating one or two specialized areas.
• In that sense, Yamaha pianos stand out, for they are all built stressing the quality of the basic design. The entire piano is conceived as a single unit, with each part designed to work at its optimum on that basis. No matter which model you choose, we feel you will be well satisfied with your purchase.
• First, the overall balance must be good. A good piano should be like a chain, strong in every link, weak in none. For example, it the tone is good, but the touch is poor, or the quality of the bass tone is dull even thought the rest of the piano has beautiful tone, then it is not a "good" piano.

What are the factors that I should be considering in selecting a piano?

When I try to select a piano, I get confused.

(In the pages that follow, we will outline many of the construction details that Yamaha uses to build pianos that fulfill the following needs).

You should consider:
A. Tone (including scale design to make sure of such things as tuning stability)
B. Touch
C. Appearance
D. Durability

Unless you are an expert, checking on the quality of each of these points is a bit difficulty. One of the best ways to make sure you get a good instrument is to purchase a piano made by a reliable maker.
• Yamaha's phenomenal success (Yamaha is the largest piano maker in the world) is based on the simple principle of building good pianos. Yamaha pianos are used in performances by leading artists all over the world, are preferred by some of the world's best teachers, are in more conservatories and music schools, and are purchased by more serious amateurs than any other piano. When it comes to company image and true value Yamaha has no peer.

What is good tone?

• Quality of tone is difficult to assess because of its subjective nature. However, there are general points of acceptance that all agree.
• One very important point to consider is that the quality of piano tone that we wish a piano to have does not come from one area of construction. Instead, it is the end result of all the design, engineering and craftsmanship that went into the total piano. It has been said that a piano maker cannot produce good tone, but that good tone is a natural phenomenon. The piano maker's job is, by good design and meticulous craftsmanship, to remove the obstacles that are in the path of the tone as it works it way out of the materials where nature placed it. Perhaps this statement is a bit "poetic", but it does point out that while the piano maker didn't invent tone, it is his commitment to excellence that determines what his pianos finally sound like.
• Good tone is described in many ways, for example: a singing tone, a clear and firm sound; with adjectives like powerful, sweet, brilliant, sparkling and many others.
• Although the total range of sound must be considered, a very important parameter is that of the lower tones. These have a major influence over the entire resonance range. Their depth and richness are very important to the overall tone quality of the entire instrument.
• Yamaha pianos have a deep and rich lower register and a singing sound admirably suited to playing beautiful melodies. In every sense, Yamaha pianos can be fully described as pianos with a "Good Tone".

What is good touch?

It is often said that a good touch is important, but exactly what does this mean?

• The action could be described as the extension of the pianist's fingers, and is the link between the desire, emotion and creativity that dwells within the pianist and the music that dwells within the piano. A good touch then, would mean an action that is capable of transmitting the pianist's feelings efficiently, comfortably and accurately.
• A good touch must be able to respond to a wise variety of demands, from rapid trills and note clusters to slow and melodious playing, to delicate pianissimo nuances. Thus it is very important that the performer's finger movements be accurately transmitted to the strings, from the keyboard through the action and finally to the hammers that directly strike the strings.
• It is very important to a good touch that this overall process be smooth and above all, uniform for all keys.
• A piano that is comfortable to play responds well will be perceived as having a good sound by the performer. In other words, the touch has an influence on the perceived sound. Yamaha pianos are widely acclaimed for their ability to satisfy the pianist's sense of touch.

Do hand-crafted pianos exist?

It is said that hand crafted pianos are the best?

• There are no truly hand-crafted pianos made today. If every part were to be made by hand, a piano would be very expensive and the quality would be less. Unlike violins, pianos are the product of modern industrial technology. The frame, the hammer, the seasoning of the wood - all of these and many other processes must be carried out with advanced techniques, using advanced facilities.
• On the other hand, humans are best for determining the final sound. The ear determines what sort of sound will be produced. For this purpose, Yamaha uses carefully selected technicians with highly trained sensibilities.
• Yamaha pianos are used by many foreign and domestic pianists, and therefore, Yamaha has world wide access to the opinions and requests of these artists. This input is always being considered in our effort to build the best pianos possible. In addition, the Yamaha facilities are always being improved and updated. Therefore the balance between artistry and industry is nearly perfect. Yamaha can-and does-create fine pianos.

Important Points and Characteristics of Yamaha Pianos

The Soundboard

Is a large Soundboard better?

• The soundboard is so important to the sound that it is often called the heart of the piano. However, simply because it is large does not make it good.
• What is important is the basic design and the materials used. Simply because a soundboard is large does not guarantee that it will produce good resonance. The optimum size of the soundboard is determined in relationship and balance with the rest of the scale design.
• Many design features influence the sound in addition to the size of the soundboard. For example, the size and lengths of the strings, the thickness of the soundboard, the placement of the soundboard ribs, all these things are important to the tone. These should be designed and balanced so that all parts perform together as a unit to produce the desired sound.

What makes the Yamaha soundboard different?

• By purchasing large quantities of wood in log form and processing the material themselves, Yamaha can be more critical in the selection of the wood best suited for the soundboard, ribs and bridges. The materials to be used are seasoned for long periods of time stacked their lumberyards, then undergo further curing in Yamaha's computer controlled kilns.
• Wood that has been properly seasoned in this manner is much more durable and has a much better sound resonance than wood that is cured by lesser means. The size and quality of Yamaha's facilities enable them to use sufficient time and proper procedures to process the material correctly for the purpose intended.
• The design of the wooden components and the stringing scale are extremely well matched in Yamaha pianos. Yamaha's exclusive system used to bond the soundboard, ribs and bridges together; then attaching the soundboard unit to its foundation in the piano is also characteristically Yamaha, enabling Yamaha pianos to always produce a crisp and clear sound.

What is the purpose of the soundboard?

Is the soundboard really that important?

• The piano sound originates with the vibrations of the strings. However, the volume of sound created by the strings alone is insufficient. The soundboard resonates with, and amplifies the strings vibration, converting them into beautiful sound. Because of this, the soundboard is often called "The heart of the piano".
• The soundboard is not a flat, but, in the case of the grand piano, curved upward with the center of the soundboard several millimeters higher than the perimeter. This "curve" is called the crown. By pressing the bridges firmly against the strings, the crown insures that the strings vibrations will be properly transmitted to the soundboards to produce the Yamaha sound.

The Tuning Pins

What purpose do the tuning pins serve?
Are turning pins important?

• A tuning pin must fulfill several functions: It must be so tightly seated in the pin block that it will not slip and release tension from the string. However, it cannot be so tight that it cannot be properly moved by the tuner in the tuning process. Lastly, the pin must fulfill those requirements for many, many years.
• The strength of the pin block, and how well the tuning pins are seated in the pin block are major factors that determine how well the piano will stay in tune.

Are the tuning pins used by Yamaha different?

Why are Yamaha tuning pins superior?

• Yamaha's tuning pins are in-house produced using their own specialized machinery. Highly precise, they are very even and uniform.
• The pin block also is special. Yamaha uses a unique film-type glue that inserts sort of a "gasket" between each layer of maple, making the pin block almost impervious to changes caused by moisture. Because of the use of this film-type glue and the unique construction, the pin block of the Yamaha grand piano is called "humid-a-seal". We feel it is the best pin block made.
• Most other companies use tuning pins made by outside sources. They therefore can control neither the materials nor the quality very easily. At Yamaha they have absolute control.

The Strings

What important things should I know about?

There are a number of points you should consider about strings.

• Quality of the wire. All companies purchase the music wire that strings are made of. Yamaha has researched all the available music wire, tested the various brands carefully, and purchases only hi-quality wire for their production.
• Bass strings. In order for the strings in the lowest register to vibrate slowly enough to develop the pitch that is needed, the core of music wire must be wrapped with a coil of another wire. Yamaha uses pure copper wire for this wrapping and makes all the bass strings in-house with Yamaha developed strings making machines. The quality of Yamaha made bass strings is unsurpassed anywhere in the world.
• The string "scale". The strings length, thickness, placement and many other factors all have a major impact on the overall tone of the instrument.
• All Yamaha models are individually designed and close attention is given to this valuable factor of good piano tone.

What is an overhanging bridge?

Could you explain what it does?

• To better accommodate both the need for larger strings and proper location of bridge contact with the soundboard, an overhanging bridge was developed for
G-series and C3E and C5E grand pianos. In these models, the bass bridge is constructed this way in order to get the best tone possible from the lower resisters. This uses the area of the soundboard more effectively for a smoother transition of the sound.

What is meant by "Aliquot"?

What function does an aliquot pressure bar serve? Is it the same in both uprights and grand's?

• Aliquot is a mathematical term that denotes division by whole numbers. Aliquot pressure bars and aliquot duplex scaling creates partial lengths of strings called resonance strings that are whole number fractional lengths (like 1/2, 1/4, or 1/6 etc.) of the speaking length.
• In the case of grand pianos, a similar diagonally raise protrusion exists, cast into the frame between the tuning pins and the capo bar. In addition, a similar resonance string is created near the other end of the string between the bridge and the hitch pin. Here and adjustable metal strip with the raised protrusions is places at the proper distance from the bridge to create the aliquot requirement.
• Proper harmonic structure in the resonance strings is essential to produce beautiful piano tone. The use of the aliquot principle adds strength to the upper harmonic structure and is one of the major "inventions" contributing to the improvement of modern day piano tone compared to the weak, lifeless sounds produced by early day pianos (before 1900).


What is an agraffe?

What function does it perform?

• One end of a piano is wrapped around the hitch pin, the other end is coiled around the tuning pin. The portion of that string destined to produce the sound waves (the speaking length) is defined by the bridge at one end and, on upright type pianos, a raised portion of the metal frame called the bearing. The bearing is near the tuning pins, and when the string begins to vibrate, the bearing forms one end of the actual vibration length.
• In grand pianos and a few upright pianos, the bearing is replaced by a metal string holder called an "agraffe". It is constructed with machined passages for the string(s) that precisely control the distances between the strings, the lengths of the "effective strings" (speaking lengths), and the heights of the strings.
• As a result, the hammer will always strike the string properly, insuring an even and uniform tone and volume.

The Back Posts and Frame

How many back posts are needed?

• The piano engineer is faced with this problem: How to very securely support the 20 tons of tension that will be places on the piano by the strings. He has three possibilities, only one of which is practical. He could build a frame of wood, as was done for harpsichords and earliest tries at making pianos, but this won't work, for a wooden frame is not strong enough to do the job. He can design an iron frame massive enough to do the job, and while this can and with a few models, is being done, it is very expensive and requires very advanced facilities to accomplish it correctly. Or, he can design a structure that uses both wood and iron. This proves to be the most effective way. In this case, the engineer can decide what percentage of support will be assigned to the wooden back posts, and what portion to the iron frame.
• Because of the advanced capabilities of the V-process casting method and the very modern facilities at Yamaha, They tend to design this structure with more strength in the iron frame than some other manufacturers, and therefore use fewer number of back posts in some models. The real test for how well the engineer succeeded is to focus on the music integrity of the finished product-does it stay in tune? At Yamaha they are very proud of their record in this area.

What is the V-process?

Yamaha piano frames are built using the V-process but exactly what is it?

• V-process is the abbreviation for vacuum process. This is a very new and advanced casting system that uses vacuum to hold a film in place, which in turn holds the sand in place, creating a mold into which molten metal will be poured. The system of making molds uses by other companies mixes water and clay with the sand in order to get the sand to "stick together" to form the mold, something like filling a pail with wet sand at the beach, then turning the pail upside down and removing the pail from the wet sand.
• The V-process creates a much finer casting texture that that of the previously employed casting method because it can use finer grain, dry sand. This process creates beautifully finished, high precision piano frames with very even, uniform quality. This allows the frames to be built exactly according to the original design, with a decidedly positive effect on the sound.

What is a dovetail joint?

Yamaha grand piano's back posts are joined by the use of "Dovetailed joints". Exactly what does this mean?

• In Yamaha's C-type and G-type grand pianos the back posts are joined to the inner rim by a very strong jointing system known as the dovetail joint.
• The dovetail joint is a traditionally accepted high strength joint that does not use nails or screws. The end of the back post is shaped like the tail of a bird, fanning out in a wedge shape to the end of the post. A cavity is machined in the inner rim exactly matching the "dovetail shape" fashioned on the end of the post. This allows not only for extra strength, but also more surface for the vibrations to pass through from post to rim and vice-versa.
• Yamaha's highly advanced woodworking techniques make it possible to use this superb jointing method in pianos. Yamaha is the only manufacturer in the world that puts so much care in assembling this portion of the piano's foundation.

The Hammers

How do Yamaha hammers compare to other hammers? Company A uses hammers that are produced by a specialized manufacturer. On the other hand, Yamaha uses hammers produced in-house. How do they compare?

• Yamaha's hammers are in-house produced, using their own developed, specialized machinery.
• The hammer is a very important factor in determining the sound. It must maintain its elasticity and not deform even after hundreds of thousands of impacts. The size, shape and weight must be properly matched to the individual piano itself.
• The most important aspect of building a good hammer is the ability to control the elasticity of the felt from the surface to the center. Yamaha has solved this problem by developing a measuring devise that can test the hardness and elasticity anywhere in a hammer. With the use of this devise and other specialized machines, along with the highest quality felt, Yamaha is producing the highest quality hammers in the industry.
• Piano hammers that are best suited for a particular piano should be produced in-house by the piano's maker, for only the original maker can best know the piano's overall design. However, the precision, knowledge and facilities necessary are not available in most piano manufacturing plants. Very few piano makers in the world besides Yamaha, produce their own piano hammers.

What is the underfelt?

What is meant by a hammer with underfelt?

• All models of Yamaha grand pianos, and some models or uprights use special all-underfelt hammers. Underneath the top felt is another layer of felt (underfelt), making it possible to fabricate the larger hammers needed for the larger pianos and to obtain the correct density the designer specified. This especially increases the strength and impact of the lower registers creating an overall beautiful, and richer tone. This allows the hammer to keep the desired weight and density of the hammer matched to the model of the piano.

The Action

Why is "touch" so important?

• It has been said that the action serves as an extension of the pianist's fingers. The piano in general, but the action in particular, is the vehicle that the artist uses to communicate the music that is inside to the world outside.
• Therefore, the more responsive the action, the smoother, the more uniform, the better the playability, --the better the artist can communicate. This "playability" is referred to as "touch".
• Even though sound is created by the strings and soundboard, it is the action that sets the strings into motion. Therefore touch is closely related to sound. When the touch of a particular piano is unsuited to the musician, the musician may consider the tone as being unsuitable.
• The action should be part of the total piano design, where each and every part is engineered to be part of the whole. This is the way it is done at Yamaha.

What is a Yamaha action?

What special characteristics does it have?

• The most important characteristic is the ability to respond to the pianist.
• In order to accomplish this it is necessary to:
1) Design the best action possible.
2) Assemble the best materials and talent to make the action with, and
3) Fabricate the action yourself with dedication to faithfully created the
original idea of the designer.

Why are synthetic resins used in Yamaha piano actions?

Yamaha uses synthetic resins in some parts of its piano actions. How does this material compare with wood, and what are its effects on the sound?

• For the jack and capstan button, which have the single largest effect on the smoothness of the pianos action's operation Yamaha employs high quality synthetic resins.
• Synthetic resins are resistant to the effects of temperature and humidity, and are wear resistant. They are very durable, and unlike wood, will not deform or crack. The use of these materials enables the piano action to maintain a smooth touch for many years, which has a positive effect on the sound as well.
• Thus, the use of synthetic resins for the jack and capstan button is very efficient and practical. They improve the overall operation of the piano actions, and will have no adverse effects under any conditions.

How do metal rails affect the sound?

Company A uses wooden rails; however, Yamaha uses metal rails. Won't this negatively affect the sound?

• The rail is the foundation of the entire action. This cannot distort due to the vagueries of temperature and humidity. Since wood is easily affected by the changes in the surrounding environment, Yamaha succeeded in solving this problem by being the first piano manufacturer to use aluminum for the rail.
• This ensures a very stable action that will always enable the hammers to strike the piano strings correctly. The piano therefore maintains an accurate and comfortable touch over a long period.
• With the concept that the piano is an artistry made of wood, many people think that everything in the piano should be made of this material. However, Yamaha is always incorporating advanced new materials to improve the reliability, and above all the quality of the sound.

The Keyboard

How are Yamaha Keyboards different from those of other companies?

• They keyboard of all pianos, regardless of maker, is left in the natural state, without any finish applied. Therefore it is easily affected by the changes in the climate unless it is very carefully seasoned and attention paid to the fine points of woodworking. The differences in the quality of wood used and the fabrication methods are readily distinguishable between the different piano makers.
• Yamaha naturally seasons the carefully selected wood used for this important part for a long period of time, and then further cures it by the use of the computer controlled kilns at their own facility. In addition, Yamaha's advanced woodworking techniques enables precise shaping of detailed parts, creating a uniform and warp-free product.
• Yamaha has facilities unmatched by any other maker for seasoning and shaping the wood used in keyboards. Because of this special attention, the problem of poor action causes by warping keys has been solved. You will never have to concern yourself about the possibility of the unprotected inner wood warping on the Yamaha keyboard.


The Pedal

Which is better for the pedal lever, metal or wood?

Yamaha uses a metal lever, while company "A" uses wood and claims a positive effect on tone quality.

• It is obvious that the pedal lever does not become involved directly in producing tone, so the only consideration that should taken by the musician is in the areas of strength, durability and ease of use.
• The movements of the pedals are transferred first to the horizontal pedal lever, then to the vertical pedal rod, and on to the action.
• Yamaha understands the importance of the pedal lever, for it must move the pedal rod precisely, even though the initial movement is applied by the pedal at considerable distance away. Since wooden levers are affected by humidity changes and can warp, bend and twist, causing adverse effects on performance, Yamaha decided to use metal because of its superiority in the areas of strength and durability.
• Smooth pedal action will thus be maintained for a long period of time.

What is the sostenuto pedal?

When is the sostenuto pedal used?

• Depressing the sostenuto pedal while the keys are being held down will keep the dampers released from those particular strings, even after removing the fingers from the keyboard. It acts to sustain certain notes independently of the rest.
• It is somewhat similar to the damper pedal to its right, which releases every damper from every string when depressed. However, unlike the damper pedal, the sostenuto pedal operates for only those tones where the keys were depressed at the time it was activated.
• Since only certain chosen tones are sustained, the sostenuto system is very effective for sophisticated chord and melody expression techniques.
• Many works by those modern composers beginning with Debussy make effective us of the sostneuto principle. In addition, works by the older classical composers are enhanced by the application of the sostenuto pedal, even though it was not invented at the time the music was written.

The Exterior

What is the natural wood finish?

What type of finish is used for Yamaha's natural wood-grain finished pianos?

• Yamaha's finishing techniques are justifiably famous. These techniques made it possible to create beautifully finished natural wood-grain pianos.
• Natural wood-grain models are available in three different finishes, each bringing out the beauty of the wood in a different manner. Semi-luster finish, polyester mirror finish and natural oil finish.

What is a polished piano?

What sort of finish is used to surface Yamaha's polished pianos?

• The finish of a piano should not only present a beautiful appearance, but should also be temperature, humidity and scratch resistant as well.
• Yamaha's polished pianos feature a polyester mirror surface finish. It is scratch resistant and has a deep luster that it will retain for a long time.
• Other piano manufacturers' polished pianos are often finished in polyurethane finish, which is soft and therefore easy to scratch.

What is meant by tone escapement?

Why does Yamaha utilize this type of construction?

• In grand pianos, the sound resonates freely outward from both the top and the bottom of the soundboard, with virtually no restrictions. The performer and the audience can hear the music immediately and without interference.
• On the other hand, in the case of the upright piano, the case "surrounds" the soundboard and causes the tone to become more indistinct as it searches for a path out of the "box".
• To solve this problem, some Yamaha upright pianos are constructed with a "tone escapement panel". When the music rest that is attached to the front board is pulled forward, an air gap is created between the music rest and the upper front board, allowing the tone to escape more freely.
• Some models have the tone escapement area built into the lower front board.

Adjustments (Regulation, Tuning, Voicing)

What is regulation?

• The piano is a set of interrelated levers. Regulation could be described as the necessary adjustments that must be performed on those different levers in order to have the action work correctly and uniformly.

What is tuning?

• Each piano has approximately 230 individual strings. Tuning is performed by setting the frequency of vibration of each and all of these strings so that they vibrate in the closest possible harmony with each other. This is accomplished by adjusting the tension on each string individually by the piano tuner turning each tuning pin with a special tool called a tuning hammer.

What is voicing?

• Piano sound is directly related to the way the string vibrates. If the pattern of the string's vibration generated only the lower harmonics, the tone is sweet and mellow but perhaps "lifeless". If a string generates too strong a set of high harmonics, the tone becomes harsh, "tinny" and piercing. The process of voicing is balancing the harmonic content and the volume of each tone to create the best blend to fit the circumstances.
• Voicing is an intricate and highly specialized procedure of controlling the way the string vibrates by adjusting the density of the felt in each hammer, and to some degree, the shape of each hammer. The voicer uses sandpaper files and an assortment of needles of various lengths and thickness that are inserted into the hammer to change its elasticity. Other operations are involved in the voicing process, but the shape and elasticity of the hammer are crucial and all important. Here again, highly trained and dedicated workers are essential to correctly perform this portion of tone building.

Why is tuning necessary immediately after purchase?

Why should a new piano be tuned?

• Before Yamaha pianos are shipped out, they are repeatedly tuned so they will reach the customer in the best possible condition.
• However, when piano strings are tensioned, they will not stabilize until some time has passed. Therefore, the newer a piano is, the more it is apt to go out of tune. Until the piano strings stabilize, repeated tunings are necessary. This is similar to a guitar, a violin or any other string instrument.
• Thus, the piano should immediately be tuned upon purchase, and tuned once again in three to six months. Since the piano strings will stabilize after this, if the piano is being played normally, it will keep its correct pitch when tuned approximately twice a year.
• In actuality, the word tuning represents the entire range of piano adjustments. Not only does this encompass the tuning operation, which adjusts the pitch, but the voicing which adjusts the sound, and the acclimation process, which adjusts the touch. All of these operations are important to the piano and necessary to maintain beautiful sound for a long time.

Overall Quality

Why, and how are Yamaha pianos superior?

• The necessary ingredients of any piano could be listed as:
• Performance characteristics (tone and touch)
• Musical integrity (ability to build a piano capable of the finest traditional concepts that make a piano the "king" of all musical instruments).
• Beauty of case and design.
• And finally, durability.
• Every piano made can be measured against these standards, and only those that score the highest in each and every area can be considered "superior".
• Yamaha makes superior pianos by first considering the overall design of each individual model, and constantly refines and improves the design of each and every model until the point where all Yamaha models in current production represent superior design and engineering in every detail.
• The next consideration for making superior pianos is the quality of the materials used. Throughout this book you will find examples of the use of the highest quality materials in every detail of Yamaha construction.
• Without proper facilities, the best designed piano in the world would enter life as a mediocre instrument. Yamaha's facilities have no peer. The largest and most integrated set of factories in the world, from equipment to receive wood in log form to V-process casting of iron frames in our own facility.
• Properly trained workers with a philosophy of excellence in all endeavors are essential. Here again Yamaha leads the field, with precise attention given to every detail of instruction, training and support of the worker.
• After sales service is also important to the making of superior pianos. Without proper service, the best piano ever made will not produce the performance characteristics it is capable of rendering. Yamaha has a track record second to none in this area.
• These are basic reasons that concert musicians from all over the world consider Yamaha pianos superior, and why schools and conservatories choose Yamaha and because of their satisfactory experience, reorder Yamaha pianos the next time pianos are needed. In this way, the students get superior pianos on which to learn and practice.
• The true and final test of how you can be sure that Yamaha makes superior pianos is the universal acceptance of Yamaha quality by the professional and amateur musicians alike in every corner of the world.

Is Yamaha a specialized piano manufacturer?

Yamaha is a comprehensive company producing many different kinds of products. Is it true that the best pianos are made by companies that make only pianos?

• It is true that few other companies in the world produce as diversified a product line as does Yamaha. However, this is not to say that Yamaha neglects any of its products. Rather, the size and scope of the company is responsible for the ability to utilize mutual research and the interaction of technical information to such a degree that it enables Yamaha to make tremendous advances that are unmatched by most other companies.
• Remember Yamaha is a very old company that started its existence building pianos and organs. Frankly speaking, it was the concentrated technical ability that Yamaha used to build advanced design concepts into the pianos and organs that provided the way for Yamaha to move into other types of manufacturing.
• The truth of the matter is that our association with the concepts and techniques in fields outside that of the piano have had a profoundly positive influence on building Yamaha pianos.


Is mass production acceptable?

Doesn't the quality of a piano suffer because it is mass produced?

• In the case of Yamaha pianos, this is definitely not the case. All piano factories today utilize some amount of machine work and some amount of hard work to build pianos. The difference between factories is only a matter of degree. Machines can do some procedures much more accurately and more efficiently than the hand, but requires a tremendous investment and specialized know-how. Some makers have a limited amount of each available and often would like to shift more of the total job to machines (mass-production) but cannot. On the other hand, some procedures require expert, well trained and dedicated workmanship that is impossible to duplicate by machinery. Here again Yamaha has a record unmatched in the industry.
• In the case of piano building, it is usually the end product, not the method that is important to consider. While that is still true in the case of Yamaha, the method is one of the major reasons for their success in creating quality in the end product.

How long will pianos last?

What sort of life can I expect from my new Yamaha piano?

• It could be said that a piano has two lives. One, the exterior, is the physical furniture that exists when it is not producing music. This life will endure for a very long time, we have examples of museum pieces of extreme age. The other life of a piano is its "musical" life, the time it is capable of producing music, the real reason the piano exists. This life with not last forever. However, by avoiding abuse and receiving complete regular service of tuning, regulating and voicing, a piano will last an amazingly long time. Depending upon the amount of use it receives a well cared for piano could last the lifetime of the owner.
• The frame and backposts structure of a Yamaha piano are designed as a single unit. The combined structure supports and withstands the string tension, and is deservedly famous for its reliability and durability.
• Additionally, according to the JIS standards, it is necessary for the action to be able to withstand 200,000 string impacts or it is not acceptable. By comparison, Yamahas' standard is 300,000 string impacts as a minimum standard. Actually each part in a Yamaha action will perform well for 500,000 string impacts. Very few companies other than Yamaha put this kind of quality into crafting their pianos.
• Of course, if professional play or practice is carried out for many hours each day, the musical life of the piano will be reduced accordingly. But in the average household, you can expect years and years of satisfaction as long as the piano received periodic tuning and maintenance.

The Grand Piano

How much space does a grand piano require?

• While a grand piano is larger than an upright, it can be placed in more places in a room, therefore it is sometimes easier to place a grand that an upright. Upright pianos measure approximately 1-2/3 meters along the keyboard and 2/3 meters from the wall, since almost all uprights use wall space.
• The grand, on the other hand, is also the same measurement along the keyboard but does not need to be placed along the wall (although it may be). The depth of a G2J is only one meter deeper than any upright, and therefore takes up very little extra space in a home.

The relation of size of piano to performance

How does the performance of a small grand compare to that of a larger one?

• While there are many points that are identical on all Yamaha grands, one point is clear. The larger the grand piano, the larger the sounding board and the longer its strings. This creates a larger, fuller and more powerful sound.
• Since many large concert halls are presently being used, a piano built for concert use must have sufficient volume to "fill the hall". In this sense, a concert instrument has been designed differently that the smaller practice pianos.
• On the other hand, at Yamaha, both the concert grand and the practice grands share a common design concept. Each model is built toward the same ideal; Each model is designed and built so that the best possible tone, touch and balance for that particular model will be obtained.
• Therefore, even if the grand piano is smaller, its performance standard is right alongside the larger piano.

What are the differences between the G-type and the C-type pianos?

• There are 3 G-type models: the G1J, the G2J, and the G3J. There are perfect as a first grand piano, and are sufficient to serve the practice needs of conservatory students and professional pianists.
• The design is entirely standard for a grand piano, including many Yamaha exclusives like the dovetail-joined backposts. Yamaha made action and hammer especially designed for each model.
• On the other hand, the C-type models C3E, C5E and C7E have been developed for those pianists looking for a grand piano capable of additional expressive capabilities.
• Thus the C-type models have many features built into them for a smoother transition of the vibrations from the string to the bridge and on into the soundboard. The construction of the bridge, how it is fastened to the soundboard, as well as the determination of the string length, have all been re-engineered with this in mind.
• For example, an overhanging bass bridge has been employed to make more effective use of soundboard size. This allows the use of a longer string while still having the base of the bridge contact the soundboard in the desired location to produce a more beautiful sound.

From what level of music study should grand pianos be used?

• Upright pianos are structurally incapable of playing repeated notes as fast as a grand piano. Their pianissimo to fortissimo dynamic range is less, and the operating principle and the effects of the "soft" pedal differ considerably from the grand piano. Only a very few models possess the sostenuto pedal. Thus upright pianos have manly limitations, and for truly expressive playing, a grand piano is definitely the better of the two.
• This means that if at all possible the student should start on the grand piano. It is equally true that a beginning student can do well on an upright piano for a time, but once the rperfromer has progressed past simple finger chords, can clearly conceive the music being played, and can play with feeling as we as subtle variation in tone production, then the performer should begin practicing on a grand piano as soon as possible.
• As a matter of fact, most grand pianos are purchased when the pianist reaches this level, for example, interpreting such pieces as a sonatine.

After Sales Service

Why does a piano require to be tuned periodically?

• (A) Each of the 230 or so strings is tensioned at approximately 90 kg for a total of over 20 tons of tension. This extremely large force is always readjusting itself and causes some out of tuneness.
• (B) The basic structure of the piano is wood, which is subject to change caused by changes in the temperature and/ or humidity of the room the piano is in. This change happens whether or not the piano is being played.
• (C) The metal strings under this extreme tension have a tendency to gradually lose a small amount of tension from being struck by the hammer. The "out-of-tuneness" caused by use is in direct proportion to the amount of use it receives, and the force with which this use is applied.
• Periodic tuning of the piano corrects the changes in pitch that occur gradually over time. In addition, tuning is also important as an overall guide to the health of the piano.
• To properly maintain a piano, it should be tuned at least twice a year. Pianos that receive more than average amounts of use should receive more frequent, regular tuning.

Is any other kind of service necessary?

Yes. Piano service can be divided into 4 major areas:
1. Tuning (adjusting the tension on the strings)
2. Regulation (adjusting the mechanical parts of the action)
3. Voicing (adjusting the balance and character of the tone)
4. Basic maintenance (replacing parts, checking on the fundamental integrity of the parts, etc.
• Properly done, each visit by the piano technician should not only cover tuning the piano, but each of the other areas of regulation, voicing and basic maintenance should be checked and any remedial action needed, should be done at that time.

What should I do to keep my piano in good shape for as long as possible?

• First, avoid direct sunlight, extremes of humidity and exposure to the elements as much as possible. It is said that a humidity range of 50-70%, and a temperature range of 15-25 degrees Celsius are optimum for pianos. Excessive humidity will not only affect the sound, but will have adverse effects on the piano's mechanism as well.
• It is important to allow ventilation whenever the conditions are correct, but is it best on humid days, during the rainy season, etc. to keep the windows of the room the piano is in closed.
• The exterior of the piano may discolor due to direct sunlight, and direct heat (like being placed close to a heater or heat vent) can damage the exterior, and possibly cause cracks in the soundboard and damage other parts. Therefore caution is required in choosing the place the piano is to be used, and in the use of heaters.

Daily piano care

• With a soft, clean clothe, lightly wipe off any dust that has collected on the surface.
• Cover the keyboard with a soft cloth to keep the dust from settling there. Clean the keys by moistening a soft cloth with water mixed with a small amount of detergent, wring it out, and then wipe the keys. Do not use alcohol, thinner or other types of chemicals, because they may damage the keyboard.
• To care of hi-polished finishes, cleaning is all that is necessary, but you may use silicon wax or a good furniture wax.
• The chemical composition of commercial cleaners may be injurious to the finish. Therefore, there products should be avoided.